Process and device for obtaining a reciprocating movement



' 1,481,270 r w. F. PURCELL PROCESS AND-DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT Jan. 22 1924.

Filed Dec. 18 1920 VENTOR ATTORNEY as that all of the liquid wil the process the applica-' Patented 22, 1924.

' UNTED stares PATENT o'er-'10s,

' WILLIAM F. PURCELL, or HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro nvnnomo'ron'. comrnmr, 11m, A coaroaa'non on NEW roan.

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A RECIPROOATING MOVEMENT.

Application. filed December 18, 1920. Serial No. 431,759.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. PUROELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and 'btate 5 of New Jersey, have mvented new and useful Improvements in Processes and Devices for Obtaining a Reciprocatin Movement, of which the following is a 15, clear, and exact specification.

1o My invention relates to means for obtaining a reciprocating movement and refers particularly to a process for obtaining a reciprocating movement b means of a liquid column and apparatus or obtaining said 15 movement.-

One objectof my invention'is a process whereby a liquid within a conduit can be given a uniform, or approximatel uniform, reciprocating movement, throug the mezogium of the application of heat to the conuit.

Another object of my invention is a device in which a liquid can be given a uniform, or approximately uniform, reciprocat- 26 ing movement by the process of my invention.

I have found that if a conduit be only a pipe be partially filled with a liquid and.

the amt, or exits of the pi e be so arranged l not be expelled therefrom durin tion of heat, an preferably direct heat, to the unfilled portion of the conduit will cause the liquid to have a more or less reciprocatea ing movement through the conduit, such movement being of considerable length and force, dependent upon the relative conditions of the conduit, heat and liquid.

The reciprocating movement thus proat duced can be utilized in many of the ordinary and well-known applications. of recigrocating motions, and is particularly a table for the purpose of boat propulsion.

'1 e accompanying drawings, in which 60 similar parts are esignate 1b similar numerals, clearly illustrate modi ed forms of the apparatus necessary for the carrying out of the process of my invention as a boat propelling means.

Figure: 1 is a to rying' one form tion.

Figure 2 is a section through the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a modified form of my device.

Figure 4 is a, modified form of my device.

Figure 5 is a broken view of a modified form of the exit end of the condiiit of my device. I I

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the hull of a boat, the stern 11 of which carries an ordinary rudder 12. Carried by the boat is a coiled conduit 13 having the two exit -pipes 14, 15, which are enlarged by the pipes 16, 17, 18 and 19, and the exit ends restricted by the smaller pipes 20 and 21; The conduit and its parts are so positioned that the two exits 20 and 21 will be beneath the waterline 22-22 when the boat rests in the water.

Situated within the boat and beneath the coiled conduit 13 is a receptacle 23 for containing the fuel, which may. be of an suitable material, but I prefer to use t e socalled solid alcohols for safety and efliciency.

When the boat is placed in the water,the water will enter the two exit pipes of the conduit, thus leaving the coiled portion 13 and a portion of the extensions 14 and unoccupied by water, When heat is applied bymeans of the fuel in the receptacle 23, the water in the conduits 14, 16, 18, and 15, 17, 19, 21 gradually assumes a regular reciprocating movement, with the consequent expulsion of a portion of the thus contained water into the water volume in plan view of a boat carthe device of my inven- 'WlllOll the boat floats and a following flow of water back into the conduits. A column of water, which may be termed a water piston, is thus caused to reel rocate with great rapidity within the con uit lit-51 Similar results may be obtained by having only one exit to the conduit, but I prefer to use a plurality of exits.

As all of the water does not leave the conduit durin' the operation, it is evident that a solid piston placed within the water column would move witha reciprocating movement in unison with the water movement.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, v

the exit pipes of the conduit 13 are of a gradual expanding size instead of being ste ped as in Figures 1 and 2.

n the modification shown in Figure 4, the exit pipes are of a uniform size throughout.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, the exit end of the conduit pipe carries a conical member 24:, capable of being placed at various distances from the exit, in order to form a variable restriction to the exit.

The shown modifications have more or less efiect upon the propulsive force against the water volume and hence affect the speed of boat movement.

The advantages of the described method of boat propulsion are evident. There are no moving parts, no complicated and intricats machmery, no possibility of explosions, no stufiing boxes and no possible leakage, and in its use as a toy boat, in addition to the above advantages, it assesses the great advantage of ractical f as solid alco 01 may heating medium.

The actual reasons for the results pro duced are problematical, but it would seem that the vapor within the coil 13 becomes expanded, forcing the water outwardly until the heated vapor comes into contact vn'th a cooled portion of the conduit, causing a sudden condensation, or contraction, of the vapor, with a resulting in-rush-of water, which, through its momentum, is carried to a portion of the conduit heated sufficiently to va orize it, which va r becomes superhea in the coil 13 and is expanded with considerable force, forcing the water colunm outwardly the heated vapor again being cooled an contracted, this operation being intermittently rformed to produce the results describe above.

The coil 13 may be employed as a be replaced by a receptacle, but, I prefer the coil, as my experi- 1119:1118 thus far have shown more satisfactory The coil. 13 may be placed below the water-line, instead of above the water-line, as shown, but, for the purposes designated, I prefer the'position shown in the drawings and described. Liquids other than water, may be em loyed under proper conditions for the puction of similar results.

ile I have shown a. device, and the pro of invention applied to a boat, I dov eedom from fire,

menarcnot limit myself thereto, as this illustration is iven simply for ease of demonstration.

do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number or arrangement of parts, nor to the particular liquids or applications of my process and device, as shown and described, all of which may be varied without going beyond the scope of my invention as shown, described and claimed.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a conduit having a coiled portion and expanded non-coiled portions carried by the boat, the non-coiled portions being extended rearwardly and outwardly of the boat below it water-line and means for applyi heat to the coiled/portion to .cause a reciprocating movement to the liquid within the non-coiled portion.

2. In a device of the character specified,

in combination, a boat, a conduit having a 7 coiled portion and stepped expanding noncoiled portions carried by the boat, the noncoiled portions being extended rearwardly and outwardly of the boat below its waterline and means for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause a reciprocatin movement to. the liquid within the non-co' ed portion.

3. In a device of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a conduit having a pyramidal coiled portion and expanded noncoiled portions carried by the boat, the noncoiled portions being extended rearwardly and outwardly of the boat below its waterline and means for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause areciprocating movement to the liquid within the non-coiled portion.

4. In a device of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a conduit having a pyramidal coiled portion and step d expanding non-coiled portions carried hy the boat, the non-coiled portions bein extended rearwardl and outwardly of the oat below its waterinc and means for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause a reciprocatin movement to the liquid within the non-coiled portion.

5. In a, device of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a. conduit havin a coiled portion and e anding non-col ed portions carried by the at, the non-coiled portions being extended rearwardly and outwardly of the boat below its water-line, restricted exits to the non-coiled portions and means for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause a reciprocating movement tothe liquid within the non-coiled portion.

1 6. In a device of the character specified, in combination, a. boat, a conduit having a pyramidal coiled portion and expanding nontee line, restricted exits to the non-coiled portions and means for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause a reciprocating movement to the liquid within the non-coiled portion.

7 In a device of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a conduit havin a coiled portion and ex anding non-colled portionscarried by the boat, the non-coiled portions'bein extended rearwardly and outwardly of t e boat below its water-line,

striction of the exits of the non-coiled p01- tions'and means for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause a reciprocatin movetions andmeans for applying heat to the coiled portion to cause a reciprocating move ment to the liquid within the non-coiled portion.

9. In a device of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a continuous conduit having expanded end portions, the end portions being extended rearwardly and outwardly of the boat below its water-line and means for applying heat to a portion of the conduit to cause a reciprocatin movement to the liquid within theexpan ed portions of the conduit. means for producing a predetermlned re- 10. In adevioe of the character specified, in combination, a boat, a continuous conduit havin expanded end portions, the end portions ein extended rearwardly and out wardly of the boat below its water line,

means for producing a predetermined restriction of the exits of the conduit and means for applying heat to a portion of the conduit to cause a reciprocating movement to the liquid within the expanded portions of the conduit. 7

Si%ed at New York, in the county of New ork and State of New York, this 17th day of December, 1920.

WILLIAM F. PURCELL. A 

